11. We must come to the Lord's-Table 1with charitable hearts. 1 Cor. 5. 7. Purge out therefore the old leaven. The leaven of malice will sour the Ordinance to us. Though we must come with bitter tears, yet not with bitter spirits. The Lords Supper is [Greek or Hebrew], a Love feast*. Christs blood was shed, not only to reconcile us to God, but one to another. Christ's body was broken, to make up the breaches among Christians. How sad is it; that they who profess they are going to eat Christs flesh in the Sacrament, should tear the flesh one of another! 1 John 3. 15. Whosoever hateth his brother, is a Murderer. He who comes to the Lord's-Table in hatred, is a Judas to Christ, and a C•in to his brother. What benefit can he receive at the Sacrament, whose heart is envenomed ⟨p. 73⟩with malice? If one drinks down poison, and presently takes a Cordial, surely the Cordial will do him no good. Such as are poisoned with rancour and malice, are not the better for the Sacrament-Cordial; he that doth not come in charity to the Sacrament, hath nothing of God in him; for, God is love, 1 John 4. 19. He knows nothing of the Gospel savingly, for it is a Gospel of peace, Eph. 6. 15. He hath none of the wisdom which comes from Heaven, for that is gentle, and easy to be entreated, Jam. 3. 17. Oh that Christians were [Greek or Hebrew], (as Ignatius speaks) rooted and cemented together in love. Shall Devils unite, and Saints divide? Did we thus learn Christ? Hath not the Lord Jesus loved us to the death? What greater reproach can be cast upon such a loving Head, than for the Members to s•ite one against another? The good Lord put out the fire of contention, and kindle ⟨p. 74⟩the fire of love and amity in all our hearts.
11. We must come to the Lord's-Table 1with charitable hearts. 1 Cor. 5. 7. Purge out therefore the old leaven. The leaven of malice will sowre the Ordinance to us. Though we must come with bitter tears, yet not with bitter spirits. The Lords Supper is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, a Lovefeast*. Christs blood was shed, not only to reconcile us to God, but one to another. Christ's body was broken, to make up the breaches among Christians. Howsad is it; that they who profess they are going to eat Christs flesh in the Sacrament, should tear the flesh one of another! 1 John 3. 15. Whosoever hateth his brother, is a Murderer. He who comes to the Lord's-Table in hatred, is a Judas to Christ, and a C•in to his brother. What benefit can he receive at the Sacrament, whose heart is invenomed ⟨p. 73⟩with malice? If one drinks down poyson, and presently takes a Cordial, surely the Cordial will do him no good. Such as are poysoned with rancour and malice, are not the better for the Sacrament-Cordial; he that doth not come in charity to the Sacrament, hath nothing of God in him; for, God is love, 1 John 4. 19. He knows nothing of the Gospel savingly, for it is a Gospel of peace, Eph. 6. 15. He hath none of the wisdom which comes from Heaven, for that is gentle, and easie to be intreated, Jam. 3. 17. Oh that Christians were 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, (as Ignatius speaks) rooted and cemented together in love. Shall Devils unite, and Saints divide? Did we thus learn Christ? Hath not the Lord Jesus loved us to the death? What greater reproach can be cast upon such a loving Head, than for the Members to s•ite one against another? The good Lord put out the fire of contention, and kindle ⟨p. 74⟩the fire of love and amity in all our hearts.
- 111.
- *[Greek or Hebrew], &c. Ignatius ad Trall.〈non-Latin alphabet〉, &c. Ignatius ad Trall.
